This 144.4-mile journey from Weatherby Lake, MO, to Columbia, MO, is best suited as a single-day trip, taking approximately 2 hours and 43 minutes to complete. You'll primarily navigate on highways like U.S. Submarine Veterans' Memorial Highway and Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway, with a small portion on I-435, making for a route that's 9% interstate. The estimated fuel cost for this drive is around $23. This route stays within the Midwest region, offering a straightforward drive through Missouri. With only one recommended stop, it's an efficient way to get from point A to point B.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
72.2 miles from Weatherby Lake, MO
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 23m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
U.S. Submarine Veterans' Memorial Highway
54.4 mi
58m
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
54.3 mi
58m
I 435
12.3 mi
13m
Alexander Doniphan Memorial Highway
9.6 mi
11m
Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway
5.6 mi
6m
Clifton J. Scott Memorial Highway
1.8 mi
2m
North Providence Road
1.2 mi
2m
Highway Patrol Sgt. Benjamin Booth Memorial Highway
0.8 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
U.S. Submarine Veterans' Memorial Highway
— 54.4 mi, about 58m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Weatherby Lake, MO and Columbia, MO.
1
Start on Northwest Potomac Avenue
0.7 mi·2 min·Northwest Potomac Avenue
2
At end of road, turn right onto Northwest Barry Road
0.4 mi·47 sec·Northwest Barry Road
3
Turn left onto North Amity Avenue
0.4 mi·55 sec·North Amity Avenue
4
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·35 sec
Toward MO 152 East: Liberty
5
Merge onto MO 152
9.6 mi·11 min·Alexander Doniphan Memorial Highway
6
Take the exit
0.5 mi·51 sec
Toward I 435 South: Saint Louis
7
Merge onto I 435
12 mi·13 min·I 435
Use the slight right lane.
8
Keep slight right at fork onto US 24
0.3 mi·23 sec·US 24
Exit 63Toward I 70, US 24 West, US 40: Saint Louis, Kansas City, Sports Complex
9
Keep slight left at fork
1.2 mi·1 min
Toward I 70 East: Saint LouisUse the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Keep slight left at fork
469 ft·11 sec
Toward I 70 East: Saint LouisUse the slight left / straight lanes.
32 mi·34 min·U.S. Submarine Veterans' Memorial Highway
17
Keep slight left at fork onto I 70
22 mi·24 min·U.S. Submarine Veterans' Memorial Highway
18
Continue on I 70; US 40
1.8 mi·2 min·Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
19
Continue on I 70; US 40
0.8 mi·1 min·Highway Patrol Sgt. Benjamin Booth Memorial Highway
20
Take the exit
0.1 mi·16 sec
Exit 126Toward MO 163: Downtown
21
Turn right onto MO 163
1.2 mi·2 min·North Providence Road
22
Arrive at destination
MO 163
Trip Plan
Given the manageable 2-hour-and-43-minute duration, this 144.4-mile trip from Weatherby Lake to Columbia is easily accomplished in a single day. Aim to depart in the morning to allow ample time for your single recommended stop without feeling rushed. With a fuel cost estimated at $23, filling up before you leave Weatherby Lake should be sufficient. Pay attention to the 'turn-heavy local drive' profile, especially as you get closer to your destination, to avoid any unexpected delays or missed turns.
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 72.2 miles from Weatherby Lake, MO, or about 1h 23m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 54.4 miles.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
Departure
Before you leave
Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.
First stop
Around 32 miles or 40m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 72.2 miles or 1h 23m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 13m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Columbia, MO than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Weatherby Lake, MO so your first major turns are already loaded.
+
Leave with enough water and a charging cable within reach, not packed away.
+
Check your fuel range against the first long segment, especially if you are starting outside city service areas.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Weatherby Lake, MO
This is one driving day of about 144.4 miles and 2h 43m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 32 miles from Weatherby Lake, MO.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on U.S. Submarine Veterans' Memorial Highway for about 54.4 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 12
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.7 and 25.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0.7 mi into trip|~2m in|Northwest Barry Road
At end of road, turn right onto Northwest Barry Road
Navigation decision point
5
1.5 mi into trip|~4m in
Take the ramp toward MO 152 East: Liberty
Navigation decision point
Toward MO 152 East: Liberty
7
24.1 mi into trip|~30m in|US 24
Keep slight right at fork onto US 24 toward I 70, US 24 West, US 40: Saint Louis, Kansas City, Sports Complex
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 63
Toward I 70, US 24 West, US 40: Saint Louis, Ka...
7
24.4 mi into trip|~31m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 70 East: Saint Louis
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 70 East: Saint Louis
7
25.6 mi into trip|~32m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 70 East: Saint Louis
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left / straight lanes.
Toward I 70 East: Saint Louis
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$22.58 one way
$45.15 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg51 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$24.79
$49.57
premium
$4.89
$27.79
$55.58
diesel
$5.61
$31.88
$63.76
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$23
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$48–$73
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 50.5 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.
Driving Electric?
About $15 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
43.3
0
$15.16
$6.93
Efficient EV
36.1
0
$12.64
$5.78
EV Truck/SUV
57.8
0
$20.22
$9.24
Gas CO2
51 kg
EV CO2
17 kg (67% less)
This trip is well within single-charge range for most EVs. No charging stops needed if you start fully charged.
DC fast charging avg $0.35/kWh. Home charging avg $0.16/kWh. US grid CO2: 0.39 kg/kWh.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Forecast as of Apr 16, 2026
Origin
Weatherby Lake, MO
Night
in Weatherby Lake on Saturday
Local time
11:41 PM
CDT
Current temp
77°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Columbia, MO
Night
in Columbia on Saturday
Local time
11:41 PM
CDT
Current temp
82°F
Sunny
SW 6 mph3% chanceLive forecast
72°F
Odessa, MO
72 mi in
Seasonal Notes
Summer travel usually means heavier construction, hotter rest stops, and busier weekend traffic around major cities.
Winter travel shortens daylight, so a route that looks manageable on paper can feel much longer after dark.
Holiday weekends tend to make both departure and arrival windows slower than the raw route time suggests.
Time zone
Same local time
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
5 degrees warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
2h 43m on the road
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a turn-heavy local drive for much of this 144.4-mile route. While 9% of the drive utilizes interstate highways, the majority of your time will be spent on roads like U.S. Submarine Veterans' Memorial Highway. The longest continuous stretch you'll encounter without significant turns or breaks is 54.4 miles on U.S. Submarine Veterans' Memorial Highway. This suggests a varied driving experience, likely transitioning between faster highway sections and more intricate local road navigation as you progress toward Columbia.
Only 9% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
22 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 54.4 mi on U.S. Submarine Veterans' Memorial Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.7 miles in near Northwest Barry Road.
Driving Effort7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 12 significant decision points across 144.4 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.7 miles (Northwest Barry Road): Navigation decision point; at 1.5 miles: Navigation decision point; at 24.1 miles (US 24): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Weatherby Lake, MO and Columbia, MO, road signs point toward Kansas City and Sports Complex.
Columbia is a bustling college town in Missouri, halfway between St. Louis and Kansas City. It is home of the University of Missouri (also known as 'Mizzou') as well as two other post-secondary institutions Stephens College and Columbia College.
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 43m. Total distance: 144.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 43m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 54.4 miles on U.S. Submarine Veterans' Memorial Highway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
It helps. This route has a higher-than-average number of complex decision points, which get harder in the dark. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at Columbia, MO before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. Plan at least 1 meaningful breaks. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.7 miles (Northwest Barry Road): Navigation decision point; at 1.5 miles: Navigation decision point; at 24.1 miles (US 24): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Columbia, MO before heading back.
